Sap-collecting device.



F. B. TURNER.

SAP UOLLEUTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED AUG.3.190B.

Patented June 1, 1909.

non/dot Z STarIZ-Sr FRANK B. TURNER, OF OOALA, FLORIDA.

SAP-COLLECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Application filed August 8, 1908. Serial No. 446,749.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. TURNER, citizen of the United States,residing at Ocala, in the county Florida, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Sap-Collecting Devices, of which the following isa specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in sapcollecting devices of that type which are particularly adapted for usein the collection of crude turpentine or other oleoresinous liquidsexuding l'rom coniferous trees, and the object of the invention is animproved device of this character which is susceptible of application totrees of different sizes, which embodies means for directing theturpentine into the desired vessel and preventing any possible wastethereof, and which is simple and durable in construction and may beeasily and cheaply manufactured, so as to warrant its adoption uponplantations where thousands of such devices could be advantageouslyemployed.

With this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructionsand arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe,and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

of Marion and State of g F or a full understanding of the invention andthe merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details ofconstruction, reference is to be had to the following description andaccompanying drawin in which:

b7 l igure 1 1s a view illustrating the application of my improved sapcollecting device; Fig. 2 1s a vertical sectlon thereof; Fig. 3 1s aperspective view of the gutter detached; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a blank from which the gutter may be formed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the samereference characters.

My improved sap collecting device is designed to be applied to a treewhich is blazed in any approved manner to form an incision that extendsthrough the bark of the tree to afford an escape for the turpentine andpermit it to exude therefrom. In order to collect the turpentine, Iprovide a gutter that embodies two upwardly disposed oppositely inclinedtroughs 1 which are substantially V-shaped in cross section and whichare secured to the tree at their rear sides by means v 1 L 1 1 passingtheiethiough.

of nails or other suitable fastening means These troughs terminate attheir lower ends in spaced relation to each other, and a spout isinterposed therebetween and comprises a strip 2 that connects and isformed integral with the rear sides of the troughs, and that isoverlapped thereby, by being partially doubled upon itself, as indicatedat 3. In the preferred con struction of the spout, the strip 2 isextended downwardly below the lower ends of the troughs to form a lip 4which is disposed outwardly from the tree, as shown and upon which theliquid flowing down the troughs is deposited, said lip then directingthe flow of the turpentine outwardly from the tree and into the desiredcup or other collecting vessel 5 so as to prevent the possibility of theturpentine becoming accidentally spilled. In

the present instance, this collecting vessel 5 is constructed of anintegral strip of suitable sheet metal that is bent to form a cup whichis seamed at its lower end and up the back, as shown, and which isremovably secured below the lip and upon a nail or other fasteningdevice by means of an inverted keyholeshaped slot formed in its backnear the upper end thereof. The front of the cup is convex and is thusadapted to be grasped to effect the convenient removal of the cup, whilethe back is substantially flat so as to fit snugly against the trunk ofthe tree to hold the de vice against any possible accidental detachmentsuch as being blown down.

From the above description, in connection with the accompanying drawing,it will be evident that I have provided an improved sap collectingdevice which is simple and durable in construction and may be applied totrees of different sizes, and which consists of comparatively few partsthat may be easily and cheaply manufactured so as to permit plantationsto be equipped with such improved devices at a comparatively reasonablecost.

It is to be particularly observed that the gutter consisting of the twotroughs and the spout interposed therebetween, may be convenientlyformed from an integral piece of sheet metal by stamping therefrom ablank, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and then bending such blank asindicated by the dotted lines to form the respective parts beforedescribed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a sap collecting device, a gutter constructed of an integral pieceof sheet metal and com rising oppositely inclined troughs having tieirlower ends in spaced relation, and a spout interposed between said endsof the trough and embodying an outwardly disposed lip that extendsdownwardly below the same and is designed to direct the sap into acollecting vessel.

2. In a sap collecting device, a gutter constructed of an integral pieceof sheet metal and comprising oppositely inclined troughs that areV-shaped in cross section and have their lower ends in spaced relation,and a spout interposed between said ends of the trough and consisting ofa strip connecting the lower ends of corresponding sides of the troughsand extended downwardly below the same and outwardly disposed toconstitute a lip designed to direct the sap into a collecting Vessel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. TURNER.

Witnesses:

WM. L. COLB RT, E. L. OARNEY.

